Low humidity
Crispy brown tips on the fine leaflets in dry air are the Areca's single most common complaint.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Areca Palm is a humidity-loving tropical, and its narrow, feathery leaflets have a lot of exposed edge. In very dry indoor air, especially near a heating vent or air conditioner, those thin tips lose water faster than the roots can replace it, so they brown and turn crisp while the rest of the frond stays green.
How to fix it
Raise the humidity around the plant: group it with other plants, set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, or run a small humidifier nearby — and move it well away from vents and drafts. Trim only the dead, crispy tips with clean scissors, following the natural taper of the leaflet so the cut looks neat, and leave any green tissue intact.
What fixes it
- A small room humidifier — A small humidifier near the plant keeps the fine tips from crisping, especially in dry winter air.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Areca Palm care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this